TUNICA COUNTY, Miss. — A man is dead after a reported drowning in a Tunica County lake on Saturday afternoon.
The Tunica County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as J.W. Ransom. His family says he was 19 years old.
Family says he was set to graduate from high school next month.
Investigators say it happened at a lake at the Cypress Lake Apartments off Casino Center Drive Extension.
A family friend says Ransom was visiting friends when it all happened.
“That’s a hurting feeling. Seeing him go down in the water, yelling for help but nobody could help him,” Family friend Grenisha Rogers said.
Rogers say people tried to save Ransom but the water was too deep.
“When the firefighter came over, they told us it’s a drop off and it’s 30 feet deep,” Rogers said.
Ransom also leaves behind a child.
“…He has a child. He has a seven-month-old. So, that’s just a hurting feeling that nobody wants…” Rogers said.
The sheriff’s office says they were assisted by the DeSoto County Search and Rescue team.
The investigation of what lead Ransom to jumping into the lake are still being investigated.
